Thursday 26th January

There are many benefits to introducing print making into the classroom. As well as it being able to develop ones creativity skills, it develops ones skills in ‘problem solving, teamwork, communication, listening, personal reflection, debating, being objective and critical, developing own visual language and artistic interpretation.’ (Learning at YSP Teaching Resource, 2013, p.8).

When looking at printmaking from the perspective of a learner within the workshop which we had took part in today, it provided me with the knowledge that there is a lot of work and time which goes into a project such as this. This is why I believe that it is a good activity for children as it involves a lot of commitment.

This is an example of one which I had done on a evocative object belonging to me.

‘Printmaking can also develop literacy skills through encouraging critical and expressive use of language in response to the student’s observations’ (Learning at YSP Teaching Resource, 2013, p.8). This lesson was also in conjunction with a writing task which could easily be done with children. As the objects which we used for this project were objects that were sentimental to us, we then also had to write a small paragraph on something about this object.

From the perspective of a student teacher, I believe that it is important that we bring lessons like this into the classroom as it is important to the children as stated before, it can help develop skills which they will need later in life. The present education system faces challenges that include lack of creativity within the classroom.  Meeting these challenges calls for ‘new priorities in education, including a much stronger emphasis on creative and cultural education and a new balance in teaching and in the curriculum’ (NACCCE, 1999, pp.5-6.)

References

• Learning at YSP Teaching Resource: Exploring Printmaking. (2013). 1st ed. Yorkshire, p.8.
• NACCCE. All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education. (1999). 1st ed. London, pp.5-6.